Forbidden City故宫博物院Hall of Supreme Harmony 太和殿

The north side of the Hall of Supreme Harmony 太和殿 (Tàihé Diàn) provides some welcome shade. There are no trees in the Outer Court. The lack is not one of aesthetics, but of defense. Bushes and trees would provide too much cover for a potential assassin. A tree might overshadow the halls and nothing was to be as tall as the Hall of Supreme Harmony.